What is the best mobile operating system?

There have been many soap box paundits claiming that the desktop is dead, the sky is falling and microsoft is going out of business. These sort of claims often seem quite unbelievable although some people do like the sound of them.

To be truthful, with the exception of the sky falling, those claims may eventually become true. Just probably not any time soon. What has happened, and in a very rapid manner, is the explosion of smart phone popularity. With that popularity there has also been an explosion of smart phone operating systems.

If you were to ask the average smart phone user how many operating system they know of most of them will probably only be able to tell you of two. IPhone and Android. With Android arguably being the most popular of the two, at least in manufacturers eyes.

Yet, there have been and are more than two smart phone operating systems. Even before Android became popular and even before Apple brought out the slab which currently defines the basic shape of smart phones everywhere.

Before Apple the most popular "almost" smart phone was the crackberry Blackberry. These phones had just about everything in them that smart phones have today. Alongside the Blackberry was the Symbian operating system which was used by the biggest phone manufacturer at that time, Nokia. Also in the running was the windows mobile operating system. However, waiting in the sidelines, being carefully nurtured by the company who's motto was "Do no evil" was Android. Then Apple released amongst much fanfare and turtleneck sweaters the IPhone and the rest is history.

Or was it? While the IPhone was top of the heap, before Android became king of the castle and still happening at this point of time there are other mobile operating system contenders to the crown. Some of them have passed away due to lack of participation, some of them have merged and some of them are still being developed.

This article is not going to focus on which is most popular or which is most used but which operating system is the best for smart mobile devices. That is what I want to explore right now. Lets have a look at the current candidates.

Of course there is IOs, Apples offering. Its programs use the Objective C language and can only be used on Apple hardware. There is Android, which is a Java based layer on top of a Linux based operating system. This can be used on any hardware and is partially open source. The latest offering from microsoft is windows mobile or even windows rt which can also be run on any hardware, as long as the license fees are paid. A new kid on the block, backed by big companies, including Samsung, is Tizen, which is basically a HTML5 layer on a Linux based operating system. Then there is Ubuntu, a pure Linux operating system for running mobile devices with Ubuntu's home grown interfacing system.

So which of these would be the best operating system for mobile devices? First of all I am going to discount the end user. Now don't get your underpants in a knot. Sure the end user is important however, due to the end usage functions being the same, the end user interface will also end up pretty much the same.

No, what really makes an operating system the best is how well it runs the hardware and how flexible is it to program for. Doesn't everybody say that the defining success of an operating system is the amount of programs written for it? Actually I would go one step further. I would say the success of an operating system is dependent on not only how many programs are written for it but also on how many hardware platforms it can run on.

As one commenter who has been described as cantankerous and curmudgenonly is quite fond of saying. End users want a platform which they can run the programs they are used to in the same way they are used to. What this basically means is that an ideal operating system would be the same, no matter whether the hardware is mobile or desktop based.

If I were to choose right now, out of all candidates available, the best mobile operating system I would have to choose is the Ubuntu one. From what I have seen, it has done the best at integrating the mobile and desktop based models into a single end user interface. It is based on a pure Linux model without having an extra layer overlaid on top of the operating system and it is also very well thought out for end usage.

I am sure your idea of the best mobile operating system is going to be different so let me have it. Tell me what you think in the comments below. Who knows, maybe we could even come to an agreement here :)

42 Comments

The latest offering from Microsoft is Windows Mobile or even Windows RT which can also be run on any hardware

Seriously?

You mention iOS and then a glowing mention of Android and then leave out the granddaddy of tablet operating systems, Windows 8 Pro?

This article is not going to focus on which is most popular or which is most used but which operating system is the best for smart mobile devices.

Your argument is flawed if it leaves out the most usable of all the OSs available for tablets.

You can't just leave it out because, I suspect that you feel, it makes all the others pale into insignificance.

If I were to choose right now, out of all candidates available, the best mobile operating system I would have to choose is the Ubuntu one.

Surprise! Surprise! :)

Your previous argument that W8 is a full operating system not a tablet OS is obviously crap as you now include the Ubuntu/Android one. I can understand why an Android aficionado would want it left out because the W8 tablet is much more versatile than this Ubuntu/Android thing, what with all the legacy software available that everyone already uses it has more available software than the other two combined.

From what I have seen, it has done the best at integrating the mobile and desktop based models into a single end user interface.

And this after the entire OSS/FOSS world denigrated Microsoft for combining both worlds.

Of course I can remember articles where it was predicted that the OSS/FOSS fans would change their opinion once the Ubuntu thing eventuated. How right they were.

Nothing is more versatile on a tablet than Windows 8 Pro. It is so obvious that I suspect you might have intentionally left it out of the argument because it is too hard to argue against.

I don't want to continually classed as 'curmudgeonly' (thanks William) but please, don't make it so damn necessary.

@Locutus
Re-reading your blog almost caused me to have to apologise and eat some humble pie. Yuk! :)

I thought, 'Oh dear! he's talking about Mobile Phones and I don't think there's a full version of W8 available for phones yet. How did I get that so wrong???'

When I re-read it I discovered your opening statement referred to mobile phones and not smart devices and I thought wow! I did get it wrong but when I continued reading I realised why I had responded the way I did.

Half way down the page you stopped referring to mobile phones and instead made this absolutely definitive statement .....

This article is not going to focus on which is most popular or which is most used but which operating system is the best for smart mobile devices.

From then on you only refer to 'mobile devices' and, although you might argue that your article was only meant to refer to mobile phones, by accident (or maybe design) you devoted the last half of the article to mobile devices and that, obviously, includes tablets So I believe that my criticisms are justified.

It is true that I started writing this article focusing on smart phones then halfway through the thought of tablets did creep in. However, you will notice that the title of this article is asking about the best mobile operating system. The reason I left out windows 8 is because it does not run on smart phones. Although you did point out to me one company which is trying to bring out a phone running windows 8 microsoft does not support it.

So I believe I am justified in leaving out windows 8 and even if I did include it, due to the fact it is not designed for smart phones and is therefore lacking then it cannot be considered to be the best mobile operating system. However did I not mention windows mobile? Is not this the operating system windows designed for phones?

The Ubuntu system is designed to run on smart phones, tablets and everything else. It is open and just as easy to program for as any Linux system is. It does not have an extra layer on top of the operating system thus complexity is not increased and programs written for it are native binaries and not interpreted scripts.

You did change the qualification half way down so W8 Pro is still a contender and far and away the most versatile OS available for your tablet. Your Ubuntu thing is only tricky in the Linux world and, as tricky as you might claim it is, it is still Linux and does not have the software in either Quality or Quantity that is available for W8 Pro and that nearly every business is already using.

If you guys can get the business world to take on Linux in their front offices then the world will come to you but until then, nope. :(

If it was just talking about the mobile phones I would still go with a W8 phone. I have a Nokia 800 with W7 on it and it is way better than the iPhone 3 I used to have so, when the plan runs out I will be heading for a Nokia 920 with W8 and I can't wait.

So IMHO W8 is easily the winner.

That decision from me is probably as obvious as was your decision to rate Ubuntu at the top. :)

Notice that my article title is mobile operating system Gary. That does not mean tablets alone. It also means phones as well as point of sale devices, hand held terminals etc.

Your favorite operating system is not supported by microsoft to run on phones.....Oh wait? Didn't I already say that? Nor does it run on hand held terminals and only on a very small tablet hardware platform. This does not make it the best mobile operating system.

I have already stated my reasons for Ubuntu being the best choice yet you are choosing to limit that so your favoured operating system looks better. Try looking at the bigger picture and take off those rose coloured glasses :D

The Ubuntu system is designed to run on smart phones, tablets and everything else. It is open and just as easy to program for as any Linux system is. It does not have an extra layer on top of the operating system thus complexity is not increased and programs written for it are native binaries and not interpreted scripts.

That is a nice sales pitch for the new Ubuntu system (complete with snide little shots at Windows) but none of it changes the fact that it is still just Linux and it will have the same impact on the front offices of the business world as Linux does. Practically zero.

Of course there is the other side of the smart device market which some say is ruled by Android. Is this Ubuntu thing going to carve into those Android sales. That will be interesting but the problem is, if we are to believe all the forecasts for Android from, well from places like this, that's not going to happen either.

You know thinking about that, you guys seem to be flying high on the coat tails of Android. Maybe if you were to stop calling it Ubuntu or Linux and re-brand it Android it might work. At least the public would think they've heard of it. Of course Google might object but it would be worth a try because it hasn't got a raindrop's chance in hell of making any grounds as Linux.

You set the definitive statement for this blog with this line....

This article is not going to focus on which is most popular or which is most used but which operating system is the best for smart mobile devices.

It turns out that what you really meant to say was.....

This article is not going to focus on which is most popular or which is most used. No, I am going to promote Ubuntu's new system which I believe is the best and I will take no argument on that.

In the business world there is no comparison to Windows Pro for tablets and the synchronisation that is capable between Windows 8 Desktops, Tablets and W8 SmartPhones makes it the, in your words, operating system which is the best for smart mobile devices. More and more businesses will soon realise that it has to be W8 in the workplace.

For Social media fanatics and internet browsers the other two are doing a lot better and until W8 catches up on some Apps for those pastimes they will make little indentation on those areas but Linux? It's more of an odd man out than Windows ever was in the mobile market.

Now now now Gary, I thought you had gotten past the putting words into my mouth stage. Oh, well, I guess there are some tricks old dogs never learn :)

I am not promoting anything at all. I am simply stating my reasons why I think Ubuntu is the best one and am defending my reasoning.

It is your right to state what you think is the best operating system and to point out perceived flaws in my reasoning. Just as it is my right and any other commenters, to point out flaws we perceive in your reasoning.

Then, when you have nothing to retort on my reasoning you revert back to putting words into my mouth?

Just to show that you are looking at everything through rose coloured window glasses that part you quoted and accused me of having snide shots at windows is way off the mark. I was actually having snide shots at Java and HTML5 by calling them interpreted scripts.

Android is a Java based layer running on Linux but it is known as Android because that is the brand name. Ubuntu is also a brand name now and many people know of Ubuntu but not of Linux. It will be that way when Ubuntu becomes more popular on mobile devices. It will not be known as Linux but as Ubuntu. Just as Android is known as Android, Tizen is known as Tizen, Bada is known as Bada, Maemo is known as Maemo and etc. Yet they all run using Linux as the underlying operating system.

Although I may agree with your selection of Ubuntu One as the top OS for smart mobile devices, unfortunately a player has to bring much more to the table to get any traction. I'm not sure Ubuntu can give the Apple ecosystem or the Android realm much competition. Even Microsoft, as big as it is, has yet to muster 4% of market share.

I know it is regarded as obsolete, but my favorite is WebOS (yes the old WebOS) and I am currently running version 1.4.5.1 on my Palm Pixi Plus (my wife, father, a coworker, and a friend are also using the same phone due to my evangelism.) WebOS is also running on Linux (regular GNU underlying filesystem) and is supported by the amazingly dedicated PreWare community. This things can be had on Amazon for around US$40. and free shipping (the CDMA version.)

WebOS is the best mobile operating system (it also runs my HP Touchpad.)

@Keith
LOL! True, there is more to gaining market share than having a great operating system. It would be interesting to see what will happen.

@Gary I don't get involved in politics much as Keating was still in power when I left. I preferred him to Little Johnny Howard though. Every one seems to be ragging on Gillard a lot it seems.

@ stlouisubntu
I really can't say much about WebOS as I have not even seen a demo of it and the first I heard of it was when HP dropped it. I did know it runs on Linux. Wasn't it also being folded into Tizen?

@Locutus
IMHO Gillard is easily the worst Prime Minister this country has ever had. Maybe the worst Prime Minister of all time from anywhere. Maybe the worst leader of any country since history began. I can't wait to vote her out in September.

I've gotta chime in and offer some support for Blackberry 10. One of the company's principals is a crackberry fan and after looking at and working with Blackberry 10, I have to say it is a solid and sleek OS. It's based on QNX, a Unix like microkernel OS. The OS is very powerful and flexible. Sure, if market share is your metric, then the OS is a failure. If ease of programming, flexibility and control are your metrics, I'd say it's a solid contender.

Full disclosure, my BB 10 support may have something to do with the fact that is uses a microkernel rather than the monolithic kernel everyone seems to be pushing these days. I've previously expressed my love of the microkernel paradigm and have lamented to lack of development. Little did I realize at the time that the BB OS was already a polished microkernel OS.

You may also already know that Symbian was a microkernel OS as well but it was a poorly executed one. The malware and unsigned code issues never went away.

Oh, there is no debate. Microkernels are better to use but harder to develop. The kernel can be distributed to user space and network links and security is much better.. It's clearly superior but very difficult to do. This is just down to the state of the art today being so amazingly poor. I'm actually quite surprised that QNX is such a solid product on the BB platform. No one else has done that before.
There's my rant in support of the future. As always, I'm probably wrong but unless someone can support their point better than I mine, I'll stick with it.

@William, when Blackberry (or perhaps I should say "Research in Motion" (RIM), acquired the rights to QNX, which has a real time UNIX micro kernel architecture, I thought sure that RIM was heading in the right direction. Of course, I failed to see the other market forces coming at them: Apple generating record profits, new versions of i this and i that, providing more than ample revenue streams for their next efforts, plus the advertising muscle to keep the hype going, and then Google having the advertising clout to pour millions, if not billions, into research and development, hiring, and acquisitions. When they acquired Android, who knew at the time where they were heading, though it is now pretty clear: if the system, infrastructure, application, or network communicates with the masses in any way, Google wants to be in it, on it, and in the middle of it.

So we have technology, and QNX is some cool technology, we have consistent, pleasing, and market sensitive, and Apple does that as well as anyone with their Mac and "i" lines, and we have Google, which manages the broad expanse of the network as we know it.

Who will win? Next 3-5 years, all three will still manage to be in it. Within three years, at least one other vendor will at least emerge or re-emerge (could it be Nokia, Motorola, HP, Dell, or someone else? Within five years one of these, but possibly another, perhaps unknown today, should emerge. Within ten years we'll almost certainly have AT LEAST one more company, probably not even mentioned or thought of today, in the middle of the mix; go back three decades and we see 1-5 new names that make a name for themselves each decade.

So I pick what Google is going at the moment. Right now, I give today's torch to Android, but even within Google, it is not clear whether the Android model, the Chrome model, the Google Glass+ model, a blend of these three, or something entirely different catches on; whatever happens, I expect Google will be there, winning if possible, but if not, I think they'll still be top three ten years from today.

@William, when Blackberry (or perhaps I should say "Research in Motion" (RIM), acquired the rights to QNX, which has a real time UNIX micro kernel architecture, I thought sure that RIM was heading in the right direction. Of course, I failed to see the other market forces coming at them: Apple generating record profits, new versions of i this and i that, providing more than ample revenue streams for their next efforts, plus the advertising muscle to keep the hype going, and then Google having the advertising clout to pour millions, if not billions, into research and development, hiring, and acquisitions. When they acquired Android, who knew at the time where they were heading, though it is now pretty clear: if the system, infrastructure, application, or network communicates with the masses in any way, Google wants to be in it, on it, and in the middle of it.

So we have technology, and QNX is some cool technology, we have consistent, pleasing, and market sensitive, and Apple does that as well as anyone with their Mac and "i" lines, and we have Google, which manages the broad expanse of the network as we know it.

Who will win? Next 3-5 years, all three will still manage to be in it. Within three years, at least one other vendor will at least emerge or re-emerge (could it be Nokia, Motorola, HP, Dell, or someone else? Within five years one of these, but possibly another, perhaps unknown today, should emerge. Within ten years we'll almost certainly have AT LEAST one more company, probably not even mentioned or thought of today, in the middle of the mix; go back three decades and we see 1-5 new names that make a name for themselves each decade.

So I pick what Google is going at the moment. Right now, I give today's torch to Android, but even within Google, it is not clear whether the Android model, the Chrome model, the Google Glass+ model, a blend of these three, or something entirely different catches on; whatever happens, I expect Google will be there, winning if possible, but if not, I think they'll still be top three ten years from today.

This software is screwy; there is a moderation delay, so you'd think it was there to PREVENT things like repeat posts, have the option to get rid of offensive material, etc. So how is it that with all of these "protections" in place, one of my messages manages to get posted twice? Hopefully the editors can deal with that (and maybe with this) too.

@Brian Masinick
This whole place is run on IIS. You have to expect some screwy outcomes.

Google definitely has some healthy momentum right now. I'm excited about the Motorola X, to be built (assembled anyway) just a few miles from here. We can expect to see a merging of chrome and android in the near future. It's and obvious move now that the same person is over both the android and chrome projects. Sundar Pichai is a brilliant man and I expect some interesting things to come. Glass feels more like a Google tech demo than a real product. Remember the hype over the segway? It was going to change the world too. It just feels gimmicky with no real usefulness.
I feel like Apple is loosing their way, though not for the loss of Jobs as some would say. They keep rehashing the same thing lately and their users are starting to notice.
Mozilla has some cool tech in the pipeline. The Firefox OS promises to be a real paradigm shift from local apps to a fully HTML5 based interface for web apps instead of the download and run systems everyone uses right now. It's linux based as well.
BB 10, while having the best tech in the bunch is probably stillborn. Just as Amiga had the best tech but the worst marketing and management, I see BB failing despite the tech. But wow is it nice. Go try one out if you can. Don't buy one whatever you do. You'd probably get stuck with an amazing phone that has no company to support it.

@Gary
IIS can be made stable(ish) and secure(ish). I'll grant you that. Of course, the way MS has it configured to install is horrible. The documentation is also very lacking. I could go on and on about why I think IIS is a bad web server. But the one that comes to mind is that it's a web facing Windows box and I have a hard time taking anyone seriously who thinks that's the best option.
Remember when MS announced they were going to put up a web server and invited people to attack it? How long was that up? 5 min? And that was Microsoft's best attempt at hardening one of their own systems.
But really, it's not about IIS being bad as much as it is about there being much, much better options available. When deciding what to serve your web pages with and what operating system to host your webserver, why would anyone choose the Microsoft option? Who really thinks it's the best choice when Unix and Linux servers are available?

@Lotucus
So sad but probably true but is that really an excuse?
If you MUST run a Windows server in a web facing roll, there are better web servers available
http://nginx.org/en/docs/windows.html
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/platform/windows.html

It probably also has allot to do with developers who only know how to use the Microsoft development environment. Even then you can do .ASP on Apache and Nginx.

@Gary
Sorry but you must not have finished your thought properly. Here, let me help.

******
No, there are a lot of smart people out there who disagree with our opinions. Just some uneducated ones who do agree with us and want to learn while the others just live their ignorant lives :)
******

I didn't want to do this but I guess everyone needs to know the truth....

Here is the actual complete statement......

******
No, there are a lot of smart people out there who disagree with our opinions. Just some uneducated ones who do agree with us and want to learn while the others just live their ignorant lives, ignorant of the fact that there are some of us out there who are beating our heads against a brick wall, working very hard to try and get lesser OSs to look as good and work as well as Microsoft products.******

Are you guys saying that anyone who disagrees with your opinion is an idiot?

I'm simply pointing out that anyone who thinks IIS on Windows for web facing systems is the best choice needs some education. They may be a brilliant genius but that doesn't stop them from being ignorant.
When it comes it internet facing servers, no one is bashing their heads trying to make Linux look or perform as well as Microsoft, that would be a step back.

@William Acree
As I am no expert when it comes to Web Servers I cannot really argue with you and must bow to your knowledge in this area.

I created a few websites back in the nineties and since then have not looked into it at all.

I never ever, except for this site, have bothered to find out which OS is running which server anyway so I don't really have any idea of what the differences might be but I still don't think the double postings are the fault of the web server, otherwise we would all be double posting.

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